Toner

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a toner which: is excellent in fixing ability such as low-temperature fixability, hot offset property, and separability even in a fixing system excellent in quick start property and energy saving property; has high gloss; and is excellent in development stability and transferability irrespective of environments. The toner of the present invention includes toner particles each containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, in which, in a case where a tetrahydrofuran (THF) insoluble matter of the binder resin in the toner when the toner is subjected to Soxhlet extraction with THF for 2 hours is represented by A (mass %), a THF insoluble matter of the binder resin in the toner when the toner is subjected to Soxhlet extraction with THF for 4 hours is represented by B (mass %), a THF insoluble matter of the binder resin in the toner when the toner is subjected to Soxhlet extraction with THF for 8 hours is represented by C (mass %), and a THF insoluble matter of the binder resin in the toner when the toner is subjected to Soxhlet extraction with THF for 16 hours is represented by D (mass %), A, B, C, and D satisfy the following expression: (A−B)/2>(B−C)/4>(C−D)/8 where 40<A≦75 (mass %) and 1.0<D<40 (mass %).

1. A toner comprising toner particles each containing at least a binder resin and a colorant,
 wherein, in a case where a tetrahydrofuran (THF) insoluble matter of the binder resin in the toner when the toner is subjected to Soxhlet extraction with THF for 2 hours is represented by A (mass %), a THF insoluble matter of the binder resin in the toner when the toner is subjected to Soxhlet extraction with THF for 4 hours is represented by B (mass %), a THF insoluble matter of the binder resin in the toner when the toner is subjected to Soxhlet extraction with THF for 8 hours is represented by C (mass %), and a THF insoluble matter of the binder resin in the toner when the toner is subjected to Soxhlet extraction with THF for 16 hours is represented by D (mass %), A, B, C, and D satisfy the following expression (1):
   ( A−B )/2>( B−C )/4>( C−D )/8  (1) 
 
 
       where 40<A≦75 (mass %) and 1.0<D<40 (mass %). 
     
     
       2. A toner according to  claim 1 , wherein the toner has a highest endothermic peak at 50 to 110° C. in an endothermic curve in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). 
     
     
       3. A toner according to  claim 1 , wherein the toner has a storage elastic modulus G′ (140° C.) at 140° C. of 1.0×10 3  dN/m 2  or more to less than 1.0×10 5  dN/m 2 . 
     
     
       4. A toner according to  claim 1 , wherein the toner has an average circularity of 0.945 or more to 0.990 or less, the average circularity being obtained by dividing circularities measured with a flow-type particle image measuring device having an image processing resolution of 512×512 pixels (0.37 μm×0.37 μm per pixel) into 800 sections in a circularity range of 0.200 or more to 1.000 or less and by analyzing the circularities. 
     
     
       5. A toner according to  claim 1 , wherein the binder resin have a low-softening-point resin having a softening point of 80.0° C. or higher to lower than 110.0° C. and having a polyester unit and a vinyl-based copolymer unit, and a high-softening-point resin having a softening point of 110.0° C. or higher to 145.0° C. or lower and having a polyester unit and a vinyl-based copolymer unit.